Scalenes
The scalenes (sing. scalenus) are muscles in the neck.
They include the following three *paired muscles.
*That is, there is one of each of the following muscles on each side of the neck, hence a righ- and left- of each of the:
- scalenus anterior - located furthest forwards of these muscles
- scalenus medius - the largest and longest of these pairs of muscles. It is located (laterally) in between the scalenus anterior and the scalenus posterior.
- scalenus posterior - located furthest back (towards the back of the body) of these muscles
Occsionally, lists of four pairs of scalene muscles are given, in which case the four pairs are the above plus a pair of scalenus minimus muscles, which are also known as 'Sibson's muscle'. When present, this fourth pair of muscles is located behind ('posterior to') the lower part of the scalenus anterior.
Together the scalenes extend from the cervical vertebrae (i.e. the neck bones) down to the first and second ribs. They raise the first and second ribs during inspiration and they can bend the neck both forwards, and to each side. The following 3 tables include details of the points of origin and insertion and the actions of each of these pairs of muscles individually.
1. The points of origin and insertion, and the actions of the scalenus anterior muscle:
| Origin: | Transverse processes of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebræ (C3, C4, C5 and C6) |
| Insertion: | First rib |
| Actions: |
2. The points of origin and insertion, and the actions of the scalenus medius muscle:
| Origin: | Posterior tubercles of the transverse processes of the lower six cervical vertebræ (C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7) |
| Insertion: | Upper surface of the first rib |
| Actions: |
3. The points of origin and insertion, and the actions of the scalenus posterior muscle:
| Origin: | Transverse processes of C4, C5, C6 and c7 |
| Insertion: | Second rib |
| Actions: |
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The scalenes are muscles located in the region of the of the head, neck, or face taught as part of many courses in Indian Head Massage. As this is a popular therapy we have included several pages that may be of interest to students of Indian Head Massage. See, for example, the page about skeletal structures of the head and neck.
See the page about Facial Muscles to view the location of the scalenes muscles. (This page consists of an interactive, rather than just a labelled, diagram, so you'll have to test yourself by guessing which muscles are the scalenes until you find the correct label.)
More about Muscles:
- The structure of muscle tissue and the structure of muscle cells
- Labelled diagrams of the muscles in different parts of the body including anterior muscles, posterior muscles and facial muscles
- Various other pages about e.g. types of muscle contractions, movements at joints, muscular disorders and related topics such as books about sports medicine
- Anterior Muscles
- Posterior Muscles
- Facial Muscles
- Muscle Terminology (Definitions)
- 1. Structure of Muscle
- 2. Structure of Muscle Cells
- 3. Muscle Filaments
- 4. Sliding Filament Theory
- 5. Neuromuscular Junction
- 6. Actions at Neuromuscular Junction
- Types of Muscle Contractions
- Muscular Disorders
- Effects of exercise on muscles
